Vavasour History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Vavasour was first found in île-de-France where they held a family seat in the honour of Neuilly, d'Ouville and Sailly.

Although the family centered was around Paris and Ponthieu, by the 14th century they had acquired interests and estates in Touraine and Maine to the west, and Artois and Holland to the east. They achieved nobility as Marquis and distinguished themselves in the 16th and 17th century aristocracy. In Artois the family achieved the distinction of nobility as the Marquis d'Esquelbecque, seated at Guernonval. They were also seated in Bambecque in Artois. In this province they were the seigneurs de Valhoun in 1547.

In Touraine, they became the Marquis d'Ardinais seated at Cognée, and this branch also produced the Marquis de Thouars. In Maine and Brittany they became the Marquis de St. Vrain in February 1658. They also branched to Picardy. Notable was Emille Levasseur, a French Engineer, 1844-1897. Prominent in the French Revolution were Louis Levasseur, arrested in connection with Dillon plot, July 1793; René Levasseur who provided evidence for the arrest of Vincent and Ronsin.

Jean Levasseur, born in 1622, son of Noel and Geneviève (née Ganche), was a French sculptor that married Marguerite Richard, daughter of Nicolas and Jeanne (née Bonnet), in France on 23rd April 1645. They settled in Quebec along with their two sons in 1651. After arriving in Canada they had ten more children together. They remained in Quebec until Jean's death on 31st August 1686. Marguerite passed away at L'Ancienne-Lorette on 20th April 1708. 1